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Children and adults take part in a costume parade during a previous Harvest Festival at Oakley’s Civic Center Plaza. The city on Oct. 26 is once again hosting the annual event, which is a great time for kids to dress up in their costumes a few days early.

What makes Halloween more enjoyable for families than dressing up in ghoulishly fun costumes and going to parties, festivals, corn mazes, haunted houses or community bashes? Nothing … except all those hauls of candy. Beginning this weekend East County is chock-full of sweet fun and tantalizing treats at this year’s Halloween events. Here’s a roundup of some activities that are sure to delight kids of all ages.

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Oakley on Oct. 26 is once again hosting its annual Harvest Festival at Civic Center Plaza, 3231 Main St., from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This event is a great time for kids to dress up in their costumes a few days early. The event features old-fashioned fall activities, including a pie-eating contest, pumpkin decorating contest (pre-decorated), children’s costume parade and a canine costume parade. Food and vendors will also be at the event. Admission and entry to the activities is all free.

Pittsburg’s Small World Park on the same day from 12 to 5 p.m. will also host a Community Halloween Bash and Pumpkin Patch. The event includes a trick-or-treat in a safe environment. The entire park will be decorated for the festive event. Kids can take home a free plastic jack-o’-lantern pail while supplies last. There will also be a costume parade, magic shows, live music and pony rides. Admission for kids 10 and younger is $2 or free with canned goods, and adult admission is $4. Small World Park is at 2551 Harbor St.

Also on Oct. 26, the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce will host a “Halloween Spooktacular.” This free event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Century Plaza Shopping Center. There will be carnival rides and a bounce house, mummy wrap, costume contest, candy giveaway, movie ticket giveaway to the first 250 people and a pumpkin giveaway for the first 250 families. See mypittsburgchamber.org for more information.

Brentwood’s Hometown Halloween is also scheduled for Oct. 26, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in which “ghosts and Goblins are all welcome.” Local merchants and chamber members will host safe trick-or-treating. The event will be downtown on Oak Street. For more details, visit brentwoodchamber.com.

Antioch’s Rivertown Trick-or-Treat Kids Festival will take place downtown at G and Second streets from 12 to 4 p.m. Oct. 27. The event includes store-to-store trick-or-treating and a costume contest. Also in Antioch, residents on Oct. 31 can take the kids out trick-or-treating with the Antioch Police Department, which describes this as a fun, safe, free Halloween event. The event at the police station, 300 L St., includes activities and a haunted house for children and is recommended for kids younger than 13.

Prescription take-back: Police departments across the country and state are taking back unused prescriptions Oct. 26 for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. East County residents will have three drop-off sites to choose from to drop off any unwanted or unused medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.: the Brentwood Police Department at 9100 Brentwood Blvd.; the Oakley Police Department at 3231 Main St.; and the Antioch Police Department at 300 L St.

On “Take-Back Day,” residents can dispose of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Before dropping off drugs remove all identifying information. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked, but collection sites are not equipped to receive liquids or needles. Flushing unused medicines down toilets or throwing them in the trash pose safety, environmental and health hazards. Returning unused drugs to law enforcement agencies for destruction is the safest and most environmentally responsible disposal method.

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